Molder



L. E. BLOOD MOLDEP.

Filed Nov. 28, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet l G wm'm QQ N 9mm o www Il www o @if 3%.?. ab f e UE/W nef I m www M m L .7% wh@ QNN L. E. BLOOD 2,102,175

MOLDER Filed Nov. 2a, 1954 9 sheets-sneer 2 Dec. 14, 1937.

L.E.BLOOD Dec. 14, 1937.

MOLDER 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 28, 1934 Dec. 14, 1937. Y L, E, BLOOD 2,102,175

MOLDER Filed Nov. 28, 1954 9 sheets-sheet 5 Q (Q1 C) v Iii/vezzzrw jaurerweEBZoo.

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L. E. BLOOD Dec. 14, 1937.

MO'LDER Filed Nov. 28, 1954 9 sheets-sheet 6 Lau?e?weE B Zaad,

9 Sheets-Sheet 7 MULDER w wm @EM wwf @n M/ www I L@ w, Smm@ wu L. E. BLOOD Filed NOV. 28, 1934 vom Dec. 14,' 1937.

' L. E. BLOOD Dec. Mr, 937.

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MOLDER Filedl NOV. 28, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 www@ mmm O Wm Rm Irv/venan' LaufeW/CeEBZood Dec. 14, 1937. L, E- BLOOD' 2,102,175

' MOLDEP.

Filed Nov. 28, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Dec. 14, 1937 i UNITED STATS AT i MOLDER Laurence E. Blood, Newton, Mass., assignor to .S. 1A. Woods Machine Company, Boston, Mass., a

corporation of Massachusetts Application November 28, 1934, Serial No. 755,185

' 15 Claims.

feeding the work Vfrom `a Asupply and delivering it lto `'other mechanisms of the machine;

Fig. 4 is apartial elevation of the hopper shown in Fig. 3 lVas seen from the left in that gure;

nllig. V5 is fa plan view of-"the mechanismishown Fig. T6 is apartial horizontal section of the hopper 4showing a portion of the feed chainin plan;

"Fig.7 is 'a section across the bed of the machine in front of the hopper, with parts omitted;

Fig. 8 isa side elevation and longitudinal section respectively of the feed Vvchain-and'one ofthe 'feedfdogs;

vl'Fig.9 is fa section on line 3 4) of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is af'side elevation of the feeding mechanism ofthe molder proper; Y Y Fig. 11 vis anenlarged Vertical section and Fig. Vl2fs `essentially a plan thereof, with parts ornittedfin both instances; i

`Fig.r13`isa plan view of the hold-down and chip breaker which Yintervene Ybetween the mechanism of Figs. 10, 11and712 and the top cutter head;

Fig. -'14 is `a side elevation thereof; Y l5 `is a vertical `section-online 'l5-l5 of Fig.V 13; Y

v4Figs. V1li-and 17 'are respectively front 'andrear `elevations of the chip breaker and framework supporting the same;

Fig. 'is is arman on the une 'esla of Fig. 14; 19.is aV plan of the hold-down utilisedfbe'.-

1 tween the Atwo cutter heads; Y

`Figs. 20, 21 and 22 are side, "front and rear elevations thereof respectively; Y

Y Fig.23 is la section on line 23-23 of Fig. 20; Fig. 24 is a section on line 2LP-240i Fig. 19; Fig. `25 is an end view'of the hold-down shoe; Fig. 26 is aside View thereof; Y Y .Fig..27 is a plan of the feeding-out works;

Fig. 28 isa side elevatio'nthereof with parts 'broken away;

between the cutter heads;

Fig. 32 is a diagrammatic end view of a typical work blank;

Fig. 33 is a View of the blank after the operation thereon of the top head; and Fig. 34 is an Fig. 31 is a sectional detail of the bed or platen Y end elevation showing the completed work as delivered Vfrom the machine.

All Vthe drawings are considerably simplied `and many parts have been omitted for clearness since, in so far as necessary or desirable, they Y will readily be supplied by those skilled in the art and may be of forms in themselves well known. In particular Figs. 1 andr2 are primarily Vintended to serve as diagrams for correlating the other ligures which show the parts on a larger scale, it being impractical to disclose the entire machine in a single view on a satisfactory scale within the limits ofa patent drawing. Y

VThe construction, purpose and function of the elements of the rod cutting machine illustrated may perhaps be more readily understood from a brief preliminary consideration of the operation effected'thereby. The design of machine shown is intended to operate on rectangular blanks Vof `rotary-cut softwood veneer, as, for example, of

heads d@ and 42 respectively (Fig. 2). The upper head All shapes the upper surface of the piece of stockforming the contour of the rods or sticks atone side and grooving the blank between them past the center line inthe manner shown in Fig.

.33. v The lowerhead 42 shapes the bottom'portion .ofthe rods or-*sticks and' separates them one from another in the manner shown in Fig. 34.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I Awill Yirst generally identify the mechanisms utilized. The blanks cut to a suitable size may be received ina vertical stack in thehopper 44 and are separated from the stack for feeding into the machine by means Y of a chain 46 having feed dogs lil'which carry away the lowermost blank from the stack. The

'blanks are delivered by the chain 33 to Va pair of fluted transfer rolls 5B whichserve to advance Vthem downV a conning passageway, the upper feed of this molding mechanism is herein shown as comprising a circulating bed 54 with which cooperate pressure rolls 58 and this feeding mechanism advances the blanks in a continuous series, one pushing forward those preceding it, herein beneath a hold-down plate 6I) and the chip breaker 52 to the top head 40, from which vthe blank, shaped thereby to the form shown in Fig. 33, advances beneath a hold-down 6G to the bottom head l2 and thence to the feeding-out mechanism 66, the match sticks being nally delivered from the machine by the chute 63.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, I will first describe the preliminary feed means comprising the hopper All and the chain 4B. In the construction of these parts, as in other parts of the machine, the fact will be observed that because of the somewhat irregular nature of the blanks provision is made for controlling them by their side edges. The hopper for confining the stack of blanks may consist essentially of a number of vertical angle irons lll, as best seen from Fig. 6, which cooperate with the corners of the various blanks in the stack. The bottom of the hopper is essentially formed by two rails l2, best seen in Fig. '7, underlying the longitudinal side edges of the blank. The flanges of the forward angles 'l0 overlying these rails are out away, as seen at 'I4 in Fig. 7, to define an exit opening, preferably tapered outwardly to the desired size as shown, thus providing fences facing solely the side edges. The front of the hopper is substantially unobstructed between these lateral fences; that is, there is no center fence and the delivery of the blanks from the stack is controlled by the corners thereof.

In the space between the two rails 'I2 works the chain I6 which may be of the roller chain type comprising vertically disposed links 'I6 connected by pintles 'i8 on which are mounted rollers 3i) which run on the fixed tracks 82 supporting the upper run of the chain and which rollers are engaged by the teeth of the driving sprockets 84 (Fig. 3). At suitable intervals the pintles secure angles 86 to which are secured the feed dogs 48, which will next be described.

As best seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the feed dogs 48 comprise a depressed central portion and elevated offset end portions which overlie the rails l2 to push against the rear corners of the Work piece as it gravitates onto the rails 'I2 in front of one of the dogs. To facilitate the rapid descent of successive pieces and positioning on the rails 'l2 to be picked up by a succeeding dog, the rear corners of the dogs are truncated as seen at 38 in Fig 6. Thereby while the dog as a whole is wide and sturdy, the engagingend portions are relatively short longitudinally of the machine. For the same reasons the rear edge of the dog may be bevelled cifV as seen at 90. To provide for controlof the work pieces substantially by their rear corners only and to facilitate disengagement of the dog as it turns downwardly about the leading sprocket the central portion of the face of the dog may be bevelled off as illustrated at SBZ in Figs. 6 and 9 whereby only the outer portions thereof which cooperate with the extremities of the rear edges of the blank have a wide and abrupt shoulder. To provide a support for the center portion of the blanks to prevent them from being unduly bowed down and to permit their edges to be presented to the rails 'I2 by the weight of the overlying stack, a central stationary supporting rail or strip V$34.', (Fig, 5) may be provided disposed substantially in the plane of the rails 'I2 and overlying the depressed central portion of the feed dogs 48. Thus while the two end'portions of the dogs are in fact integral and driven by a single chain and thus operate accurately in unison, the effect is of two dogs projecting through lateral slots in the support for cooperation solely with the outer portions of the blank as they rest upon the lateral supporting rails T2.

'I'he chain 46 may be driven in any desired manner, but I have here illustrated (see Fig. 5) the shafts of the sprockets 84 as connected by drive chain and one as carrying the pulley 95 driven by belt 98 tensioned by the tightener pulley |00, this pulley being suitably weighted and adapted when necessary to be thrown olf by means of the handle IEI2 seen in Fig. 3 to stop the chain 46.

Referring now to Fig. 3, as the feed dogs deliver the blanks from the hopper and start to travel downwardly about the leading sprockets, the edges of the blanks remain supported upon the side rails I2 or a continuation thereof, which support for the side edges of the blanks is substantially continuous throughout the machine, except necessarily at the location of the bottom head 42 since it is desired to have the latter operate on the entire width of the blank. As the blanks are delivered from the hopper they pass through a suitable confining passageway which prevents them from riding one over the other and maintains them properly in line to be forwarded in a series to the main feeding bed 54, which passageway comprises a bottom platen |04, of the side edges of which the rails 'l2 above referred to form continuations, lateral guides I06 (see Fig. l) and a top wall provided by the hold-down mechanism 52, hereinafter to be more fully described. 'Ihe length of this passage in the em-y bodiment shown is due in part to the fact that structural convenience dictates that the hopper be organized at some distance from the feed bed 54.

'I'he movement of the work pieces through this passage may be effected by the transfer rolls 50 above referred to including the driven bottom roll projecting through a suitable opening |08 (see Fig. 5) formed in the platen IM, leaving, however, lateral portions thereof in alignment with the rails 'l2 which support the edges of the work pieces and a top roll of divided or spoolshaped contour, so that in so far as its active surface goes it is in effect two rolls, cooperating therewith, this top roll being mounted on the swinging arm IIIJ and yieldably pressed toward the bottom roll by the spring tension mechanism H2.

To insure the delivery of the Work pieces Ain line along the platen to the transfer rolls 5D they may as they emerge from the front of the hopper beneath the fences 'III pass beneath a hold-down I I which may be mounted for vertical adjustment by means of the screws IIE on a bar IIB (see Fig. 4) carried on the front Walls of the hopper, being herein shown as pivoted at one side on a bolt I 20 while the other end is provided with an open-sided notch adapted to take over a bolt I22 operated bya lever I24. This permits the right-hand end of th'e bar IOS to be quickly released in the case of a jam and the bar swung upwardly about bolt |20 as a pivot to lift the hold-down II4. The hold-down may include a rearwardly and upwardlyprojecting finger |25 (see Fig. 3) extending closely adjacent the front wall of the hopper as defined by the moans -transverse vflanges ofthe angle :iron "l and opposing the central `supporting Arail 94k If 4 the center of a blank or workpiece is upwardlybowed .but its edges contact with the supporting rails '12, it may be fed `out'frorn under the other pieces in the stack because the fences dening this exit opening are solely opposite the edges of the piece.V When, however, V,the `forward end of the .piece has advanced through this exit opening `transfer Yrolls 50. Lateral forwardly .extending parts |27 (see Fig. 5) V,of -the 'hold-down plate `Inay'oppose rails 12 and extend closely *adjacent* `to the bite of rolls B.

The top wall of the'confining passage along `Which-the work pieces are advanced and ,constituting as a whole the hold-down mechanism `identified by the numeral y52 may comprise pri- ;marily a longitudinal bar |26which at the right .extends between the two portions of the top roll :5B which is thus divided `to permit this bar to extend past the center line ofthe roll andclosely adjacent to the hold-down 1M, as seen in Fig.. 3,

ywhile at the left-hand end, as seen in Fig. l0, it overlaps the upper horizontal .runxof the feeding bed t4Y extending substantially -to the Ycenter line of the first Vofthe'. hold-.down rolls 58, which latter areof a construction to provide for this,

"as will hereinafter be described. This roll 58 is indicated at the left in Figr. The bar iii `may be carried by the horizontal arm of an angu lar member |28 (see Fig. 5)' sliding vertically on upright |30 and adapted for vertical adjust- .ment thereon, its lowerrnost .position being con- A clamp trolled by a limit screw |32 (see Fig..2) operated by the handle i3d serves to hold the Ybar stationary or releases the same to permitit :to bie-.quickly raisedzby means of `a :hoist handle |36 to permit jams to be'cleared. The handle |38 passes through an'openingjin .the vertical leg `of member |28, thus to obtain a bearing thereon, and is `fixedly pivoted` at its inner end` on upright |30 andthus acts on themember |28 as a lever ofthe second class.: 1n normal operation the bar |26V may be considered stationary and serves asfa limit for the upper wall ofV the passage. Auxiliary presser bars |37 (see Fig. 5) may be suspended from either side `thereof by the springs li'and serve toconne .the 4work `pieces against the platen Hill, they being normally raised so that their lower Asurfaces lare substantially at the feleva'tion of thelower surface of the'bar |25. I

Toward the left-.hand portion of Figs; 3 and 5, .the central portion of the platen Hifi Vis cut away centrally toY accommodate thecirculating feed bed 54|, the upper surface of which is disposed in alignment therewith. 'The lateral portions fof the platen, however, continue Vas thefrailsfjlfiiiY (see Fig. 12.) which are .in eifect continuations of the `rails 'i2 .and continuethe support oi the Work pieces by .theirlateral edges. The work pieces pass between thefside guides it@ under the joint control Vof these rails lili! and the top bar |26 until under controlof the feeding 'mech'- anism constituted by the feed bed `5d and its cooperating pressure rolls 58 which i will next describe. Y Y

, The bed 54 may be of the sgenleral construction of that described fully in my PatentV No. 1,704,677 and not necessary to describe in detail-herein,

by the roll housing.

comprisingessentiallya, chain of 'theroller type,

-the'upper Vrun of whichzis `supported in axed `'horizontal vplane by means of suitable supporting rails and which carries a series of transverse bars or lags |42 on which the work rests and by `the motion of which `thework is advanced. The lag bed and the `cooperating,pressurelrolls '58, however, are `herein of Va peculiar'construction. The bed works between the two rails |46 with its upper surface substantially in the same .plane and theends of thelags |1132 are preferably rabbeted as at IM (see Fig. 11) to fit around and beneathv V.these supporting rails along which the bed advances the work pieces. The cooperating feed rolls 58 are, as best seen in Fig. 11, of spoolshaped forni and cut away centrally, this permitting, as shown in Fig.V l0, the continuation of the'hold-down bar |28 into the cut-awaypor# tions of the active surfaces of the iirst of these rolls `to overlie the horizontal feeding surface of the bed. Also to maintain the pieces in position on the bed I may provide a central hold=down bar M5 received in the cut-away portions of the rolls and extending substantially from center line to centerline as well as -the lateral hold-down bars |48 in alignment with the treads of the 'rolls and extending as closely as conveniently may be tothe contact lines thereof. These bars are herein shown as suspended by an angle |59 carried the rolls may be substantially as disclosed in the The drive of the bed andV patent above referred to and is unnecessary to de- Y scribe here in detail.

The feeding mechanism shown in Figs. i0, 11Y and l2 advances the work pieces through'theV molding machine proper for the operationtherc-V on of the cutter heads lill and 42, each piece pushing forward those preceding it. The work pieces pass from the travelling bed to a platen |52, the lateral edge portions of which are continuations of the rails l so that the edges of the Work pieces have been continuously supported and guided in a xed plane since their entry in the machine and supported in that plane as they pass fro-rnV the bed 54 as it Vturns about the forward sprocket inFig. 1Q tol-be advanced bythe followingpieceon which the bed and itscooperating v presser roll iimaintains a grip. Y The platen |52, as best seen in Fig. 14, extends Y beneath the toprcutter head it ofV which the out'-` lineV is shown in that iigure and the work is supported thereon during the operation of the cutter head. The feed of the pieces bythefeed bed tover the platen |52 is herein shown.V as `contro-lied by ahold-down plate l5@ supported by an angular member |56, the vertical leg of which isvertically adjustable as by means Vof hand wheelA |53 on 'a'member |69, itself trans- `verselyV adjustable on overhanging bracket |62.

The work pieces pass from beneath this plate beneath the chip breaker. The chip breaker herein shown comprises a shoe itt extending to the left in the figures intoclose proximity to the cuttingY circle of the top head :it and which preferably may be made of synthetic resin such as that known bythe trade name Bakelite, this shoe having rabbeted edges |66 (Fig. 17) sliding in ways inthe metallic carrier member |68 pivoted at its right-hand end viewing Fig. 14 `to the arms ili of the chip breaker yoke which carries an abutment lug i?? through which passes the stem Y of an eye bolt VM p-ivoted on the carrier |553 and receiving (see Fig. l5) `the spring |16 tending to rock the carrier |68 counterclockwise viewing Figs. 14, and 'l5 to provide suitable pressure upon the chip breaker. The limit screw |18 extending through one of the arms of the yoke (Figs. 14 and 17) limits the upward swinging movement of the chip breaker. As is usual in devices of this character, the chip breaker is mounted for adjustment, the chip breaker yoke being herein shown as vertically adjustable by means of the hand screw |88 swivelled therein and working in the supporting bracket |62 overhanging from one side of the frame of the machine. A clamping device operated by the lever handle |84 is provided and a limit screw |86 for quickly returning the chip breaker to its initial adjusted position. To position shoe |64 in its supporting frame |68 and prevent its being carried too near to the cutter head, a member |88, best seen in Fig. 15, is secured thereto and preferably has the downwardly depending lug |90 entering a recess in the upper face of the shoe. The member |88 also has an upstanding flange |92 adapted to receive a set screw |64 cooperating with a suitable abutment surface on the part |68.

As the work pieces pass beneath the cutter head they are shaped substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 33 and they continue beneath the cutter head over the platen |52 which extends, as best seen in Fig. 2, past the upper cutter head to the location of the lower cutter head. The work pieces are shaped as shown in Fig. 33, pass over this platen beneath the hold-down 64 which extends over the lower cutter head and supports the work piece as it is acted on by the lower cutter head. This hold-down 64 takes the form of a suitable shoe, illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24, the right-hand end of which viewing Figs. 24 and 2 extends closely adjacent the cutting circle of the upper cutter head 48. This shoe may be mounted as a whole in a frame |96, forming the horizontal arm of an L-shaped member, the other arm of which |98 is here shown as sloping rearwardly of the machine and formed with the undercut guideway 280 by which it may slide on the dovetailed upright 202 rising from the frame of the machine, the member being thus adapted for up and down adjustment by means of the adjusting screw 264 which permits it to be quickly raised in a direction which carries it away from top cutter head 46 for clearing out jams. The shoe 64 is itself secured in its support, as best seen in Fig. 24, by means of the screws 226 tapping into the back thereof and the set Vscrews 29S adapted to bear against the sides thereof for adjusting it laterally.

In accordance with my invention, as best seen in Fig. 25, the bottom of the shoe 64 is provided with a series of grooves 2 i il so that it presents surfaces cooperating with the shaped surface of the work piece as shown in Fig. 33. Herein these grooves are substantially semi-circular and in the case of work which is cut in cylindrical form so that the surfaces of Fig. 33 are semi-circular they substantially fit about the same. 'Ihe semicircular groove, however, will efficiently cooperate with surfaces of somewhat different shape providing for each partially cut rod bearing lines at either side thereof. By means of this holddown plate the partially severed blank is advanced toward the bottom head with its parts accurately positioned for accurate operation of the knives at the bottom head thereof to form the desired rods and possible breaking or splintering of the partially formed blank as it is pushed along is prevented. The grooves, as seen in Fig. 26, continue throughout the length of the plate 64 but are relieved at the location of the bottom head 42; that is, the projecting ribs which define them are there partially cut away (see Fig. 26). It will be understood that as the work passes the lower head the blank is divided longitudinally into separate rods, as indicated in Fig. 34. In other words, at the left of the cutter head viewing Fig. 26 we no longer have a continuous width of wood, but on the contrary a series of spaced rods. These, however, are positioned in the grooves and there is no tendency for them to become displaced transversely of the machine.

The left-hand end of the hold-down plate overlaps, as seen in Fig. 28, the feeding-out platen 2 I2 which is mounted in a manner hereinafter to be more fully described on a support 2|4 which may be pivoted on a center not shown, being beyond the range of the drawings in Fig. 2 and 28, to permit it to be swung away from the lower head in a manner not new in connection with feedingout tables of molding machines and may be normally held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of latches 2|8. For present purposes this framework 2|4 may be considered as stationary. The platen 2|2 may be formed to slide thereon on diagonal ways 230 so as to move at the same time inwardly toward the cutter head and upwardly to a final adjusted position determined by a limit screw 232 (Fig. 30) and toward which it is pressed by the lever 234 under the influence of spring 236 carried by the rod 238. A cam 240 adapted to be moved by a lever handle 242 provides for quickly moving the table outwardly and downwardly against the force of the spring, thus giving access to the cutter head and also moving the end of the platen away from the hold-down 64. Moving with the table is a frame 244 on which are pivoted arms 246 in which is journalled the rubber covered feed-out roll 248 opposing the platen 2 I2. The roll 248 is circumferentially grooved in alignment with the grooves of 64 to guide the completed rods from the cutter head and over the feed-out table. The movement of this roll against the table may be controlled by a limit screw 250 and its tension by means of weights 254 (see Fig. 27) carried by a cross-bar 252 connecting the journals of the arms 246.

The arrangement of the feed-out platen 2|2 as above described provides for exerting a retarding pressure on the rods as they leave the machine by the frictional grip thereon of the opposed edges of thehold-down plate 64 and the feeding-out platen 2|2. This resists the feeding movement of the rods communicated by the following work pieces under control ultimately of the feed bed 54. This holds successive pieces together and in the grooves of the hold-down plate 64 as the pieces pass over the gap between feeding-out platen 2|2 and the end of platen |52 at opposite sides of the bottom head. Thus when the line between successive pieces passes over this gap the opposed ends are held pressed together so that the effect of this break in the continuity in tending to permit the parts to become displaced is minimized. To facilitate this action I prefer to provide for pinching the stock along a transverse line at the intake side of the lower head as well as on the out-going side as already described, and for this purpose the lower end portion 256 of the platen |52 may, as best seen in Figs. 28 and 31, be formed separately and pivoted on a transverse pivot 258 and normally pressed upwardly by means of a stud 268 supported by a spring 262, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of the screwoperated follower 264. A limit screw 266 controls the downward'movement of the part 256. By this arrangement the rear edge of platen `E52 is slightly canted upwardly to press in a limited transverseuzone against the overhangin-g plate 64 to pinch the stock just as it passes to 'motors neither have I thought it necessary to describe in detail all the portions of the drive which are illustrated as toV do so would merely lengthen this description without being correspondingly useful to those skilled in the art. It -will be apparent from the description what parts move and the method of moving them may be inaccordan'ce with analogous prior practices in the art. j

As regards the speed of movement of the moving parts, the linearspeed of the feed bed 54 may be considered as the rate of feedof the machine 'as a whole; This is designed to forward the pieces to the heads in an end butted row. Since the dogchain delivers the pieces with gaps therebetween corresponding substantially to the width of the dogs, this chain may be driven at a substantially greater linear speed in order to make up these gaps, and the intention in the form of Vthe machine shown is that the pieces of stock shall be butted end to end as they are delivered 1 restrictive; reference being had to the appended Y to the rolls 5U. The yielding nature of the driveY of the chain 46 by means ofthe belt 98 and the tightener pulley it!! permits slippage where necessary. The speed of the transfer rolls 50 is desirably slightly 'greater than the speed of the feed belt 5d in order to insure that the pieces travel through the transfer passage in an unbroken succession and are delivered butted to the feed belt.

This slight excess of speed also serves to close up any slight gap which might remain between successive pieces. The yielding mounting of the upper roll of the pair 5t permits such yielding of the feed as may benecessary due to the slight differential in speed required.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes'thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

VI claim: 1. In a machine of the class described the mechanism for separating successive pieces of stock from a supply and advancing them for delivery Vto the molding mechanism proper comlprising'a hopper, rails beneath and constituting a bottom for the hopper' at either side thereof, fences above said rails, the front of the hopper at the bottom. being separated from the fences by spaces, a chain havingv a run between the rails, and feed dogs carried by the chain having ends overlying the rails to move through said spaces.

2. In ama'chine of the class'describeclV the Vmechanism for separating successive pieces ofV 'ing central portionsunderlying said central rail and upwardly offset ends overlying the lateral rails.

3. In a machine of Ythe class described the mechanism for separating successive pieces of stock from a supply and advancing them for delivery to the molding mechanism proper comprising a hopper, rails beneath the hopper at either side thereof, fences above said rails, they front of the hopper at the bottom between the fences being open, a chain having a run between the rails, a central rail above the chain and feed dogs carried by the chain having central portions underlying said central rail and upwardly offset ends overlying the lateral rails and an upwardly andtrearwardly sloping hold-down plate directly above said central rail closely adjacent the exit opening beneath the fences.

In a machine of the class described, in combination with a molding mechanism proper comprising cutters and means `for advancing the work therethrough, means for separating pieces of stock from a supply and-presenting them tothe machine and transfer mechanism between them comprising a passageway including a platen, side fences and a top hold-down bar, and feed rolls for receiving a, presented piece and forwarding it along said passageway, said bar exten-ding past y the feed rolls to maintain control of the pieces as it passes the rolls. Y

5. In a machine of theclass described, in combination with a molding mechanism Yproper com- Y stock from a supply and presenting them to the.

machine and transfer mechanism between them comprising a passageway including a platen,` side fencesand a to-p hold-down bar and auxiliary bars spring-supported therefrom, and feed rolls for receiving a presented piece and forwarding it along said passageway, said bar extending past the feed rolls to maintain control of the pieces as it passes the rolls.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a molding mechanism proper cornprsing cutters and means for advancing the work therethrough, means for separating pieces of stock'from a supply and presenting them to the machine and transfer mechanism betweenthem comprising a passageway including a platen, side fences and a top hold-down bansaid bar having quick acting hoist means, and feed rolls for re- 'ceiving a' presented piece and forwarding it along said passageway, Vsaid bar extending past the feed rolls to maintain control of the pieces as it passes the rolls.

7. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a molding mechanism proper comprising cutters and a feeding couple for advancing the work therethrough, means for separating pieces of work from a supply and presenting them to the machine and transfer mechanism between them including a platen, side fences and a top hold-.down bar, and feed rolls for receiving a presented piece and forwarding it along said passageway, said bar overlapping said feed rolls and said couple to maintain control of the piece as it passes the rolls and until it is held by the couple.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a platen and a cutter head opposing the same over which platen and beneath which cutter head a series of work pieces are advanced in end-butted relation for operation of the head thereon, rails aligned with the platen at the intake side thereof for marginally supporting the work pieces and feeding means comprising a circulating bed having its upper run disposed between said rails and substantially coplanar therewith, and pressure means cooperating with the bed to hold work pieces against the bed for advance thereby over said platen and beneath the cutter head.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a platen and a cutter head opposing the same over which platen and beneath which cutter head a series of work pieces are advanced in end-butted relation for operation of the head thereon, rails aligned with the platen at the intake side thereof for marginally supporting the work pieces and feeding means comprising a circulating bed having edges rabbeted to fit beneath said rails and expose its central portion between the same substantially in the plane of the upper faces thereof, and pressure rolls cooperating with the bed to hold work pieces against the bed for advance thereby over said platen and beneath the cutter head.

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a platen and a cutter head opposing the same over which platen and beneath which cutter head a series of work pieces are advanced in end-butted relation for operation of the head thereon, rails aligned with the platen at the intake side thereof for marginally supporting the work pieces and feeding means comprising a circulating bed having its upper run disposed between said rails and substantially coplanar therewith, longitudinal bars supported above the bed between the rails to confine the work pieces thereon, and pressure rolls extending past said bars into cooperation with the bed to hold work pieces against the bed for advance thereby over said platen and beneath the cutter head.

11. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a platen and a cutter head opposing the same over which platen and beneath which cutter head a series of work pieces are advanced in end-butted relation for operation of the head thereon, rails aligned with the platen at the intake side thereof for marginally supporting the work pieces and feeding means comprising a circulating bed having its upper run disposed between said rails and substantially coplanar therewith, a passageway through which the pieces are advanced to said bed comprising a platen, side walls and a top bar, which bar is extended to overhang the bed, and pressure rolls cooperating with the bed to hold work vpieces against the bed for .advance thereby over said platen and beneath the cutter head.

12. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a platen and a cutter head opposing the same over which platen and beneath which cutter head a series of work pieces are advanced in end-butted relation for operation of the head thereon, rails aligned with the platen at the intake side thereof for marginally supporting the work pieces and feeding means comprising a circulating bed having its upper run disposed between said rails and substantially coplanar therewith, a platen over which the pieces are advanced to the bed, lateral confining walls cooperating with the platen, longitudinally disposed confining means supported above the platen and the bed to maintain continuous control of the pieces during their passage thereover, and pressure rolls projecting inwardly past said confining means into cooperation with the bed to hold work pieces against the bed for advance thereby over said platen and beneath the cutter head.

13. A machine of the class described comprising a cutter head to groove a face of the work piece and a succeeding head operating on the other face to divide it into rods, a platen between the heads, a hold-down plate opposing the platen extending over the latter head, and means at the delivery side of the head cooperating with the end of said plate to pinch the rods thereagainst at the delivery side of the head comprising a feeding-out table mounted on diagonal ways extending downwardly and in the direction of feed movement and normally spring-pressed therealong upwardly and against the direction of feed movement toward the work and said head.

14. A machine of the class described comprising successive upper and lower cutter heads for operating on the faces of the stock, substantially continuous longitudinal supporting rails to underlie the lateral edges of the stock and extending substantially to the lower head, means for supporting a stack of work pieces between said rails including fences disposed over said rails and presented to the leading edge of the work pieces adjacent their outer margins solely, defining an exit opening controlling the delivery of the pieces therethrough by the edge portions thereof means operating above said rails and between the rails and said fences, respectively, for delivering successively lowermost pieces of the pile through the opening, and subsequent feeding means for engaging the central portion of the pieces as'supported by the rails for forwarding the same from said delivery means in an end-butted row to the cutter heads.

l5. A machine of the class described comprising successive upper and lower cutter heads for operating on the faces of the stock, substantially continuous longitudinal supporting rails to underlie the lateral edges of the stock and extending substantially to the lower head, means for supporting a stack of work pieces between said rails including fences disposed over said rails and presented to the leading edge of the work pieces adjacent their outer margins solely, defining an exit opening controlling the delivery of the pieces therethrough by the edge portions thereof means operating above said rails and between the rails and said fences, respectively, for delivering successively lowermost pieces of the pile through the opening, means presenting to the central portions of the work pieces as they pass from the hopper a face sloping downwardly in the direction of feed and receiving the pieces as they are delivered along said rails for flattening the same transversely, and subsequent feeding means for engaging the central portion of the pieces as supported by the rails for forwarding the same from said delivery means in an end-butted row to the cutter heads.

LAURENCE E. BLOOD. 

